Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the., Part 27

Author: Forkner, John L. (John La Rue), 1844-1926
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Anderson, Ind. : Forkner
Number of Pages: 1055

USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the. > Part 27

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The Killbuck mills were built in 1862 by William Sparks and Albert A. Siddall. The mills are situated on the north bank of White river and near the mouth of Killbuck creek, the latter stream furnishing the power with which to run them. A sawmill, built by Mr. Sparks in 1860, once stood just west of the grist-mill and was run in connection with it. These mills did a profitable business at one time, but with the building of steam mills in almost every locality in the county, trade declined and the sawmill was abandoned. The mills are now owned by John Peacock and Emory W. Clifford.

The tannery business was an important industry at an early day not only in Anderson but in almost every village in the county, as hides and peltries were about the only articles, or products, that could be sold for cash.

It was in 1830 that the first tannery was built in Anderson. The building and vats were located on the south side of East Ninth street between Central avenue and Fletcher street. John Wiley and Edmund West were the proprietors of the establishment and did a profitable business in a small way. The property changed hands in the course of time and was finally abandoned when another tannery was built at the south- east corner of Meridian and Eleventh streets by Elon Merrill and Frank Sparks. This establishment also changed hands a number of times and was last operated by Miles Rozelle. The old tannery on East Ninth street had been re-established in the meantime and sold to Mr. Rozelle and when the tanneries in

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this part of the country could no longer compete with the larger concerns in the east, was again abandoned.

The first and only pretentious manufactory located in Anderson at a comparatively early day (1855), was the Keiser foundry and machine works; not pretentious on account of its magnitude, but its importance to the community. This factory was located in a small frame building, on the north- east corner of Main and Tenth streets, but was afterwards moved to a brick building erected for the purpose on north Main street, and operated by Messrs. Geo. Keiser, Benj. Al- ford and J. N. Hill. Grain drills were manufactured extens- ively for awhile, but strong competition of larger concerns throughout the country, lack of capital and other causes, gradually drove the young industry to the wall. Mr. Alford, who is still living in the city, was superintendent of the molding department and was the first person to make an iron casting in the county. Mr. Hill is still engaged in the man- ufacturing business in the city. Mr. Keiser, deceased, recently at Muncie, where he at one time owned and successfully operated a manufacturing establishment. It was not until the '60s, however, that any considerable number of manu- factories were located in Anderson, and of these enterprises, which probably did not exceed ten or twelve in number during the decade that followed, but two or three are now in opera- tion. Of the factories that were established and did a large business during the time mentioned, but which are now almost forgotten, may be mentioned a chair factory at the north-west corner of Meridian and Eleventh streets. This factory was established in 1871 by E. M. Jackson and E. B: Holloway, who had formerly been engaged in the marble and monument business. The factory was originally operated as a bent wood works, but was afterward merged into the Eagle Chair Company, and for several years did a profitable busi- ness. It was during 1865 that James Quinn & Sons, H. W. and A. J., built a carriage factory on North Meridian street, where they manufactured and sold high grade buggies and carriages for a number of years. The main building of this factory was subsequently converted into a livery stable, and is being used as such at the present time.

The Anderson Hub and Spoke Factory was another enterprise that flourished back in the '60s. This factory was - built by J. B. Anderson, Dr. G. F. Chittenden and H. C. Cisco, in 1868, and was located on the east side of Meridian

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street, between Fourth and Fifth streets. Hubs, spokes and other supplies used in the manufacture of wagons and car- riages, were manufactured extensively, the output of the fac- tory being shipped to all parts of the country. In 1873 the company was reorganized, L. J. Burr purchasing a controlling interest. perhaps, in the stock. This industry ceased opera- tions in 1886 and the buildings were abandoned.

Another industry that did an extensive business a quarter of a century ago, but which has since passed out of existence, was the pump works of Platter, Foreman & Battreall. They manufactured a porcelain-lined pump, which found ready sale in central and northern Indiana, southern Michigan and western Ohio. In season it required a number of wagons to distribute their pumps over the territory mentioned. This factory was located in the building erected by George Keiser, on North Main street, for a foundry and machine shop. The building is now used as a stable by the Anderson Transfer Company.

HEADING AND STAVE FACTORIES.

In 1870 C. T. Doxey located a heading and stave factory on the east side of Main street, just south of the Big Four tracks. This was the first factory of the kind operated in the county and was destined to have a fateful history. On the 16th of November, and only a few months after it was built, the boiler exploded, demolishing the building and killing two of the hands, Clay Godwin and Stephen Sullivan. It was re- built and on January 3, 1873, was destroyed by fire. It was again immediately rebuilt on the same site and run until -April 20, 1875, when it was once more consumed by fire. Notwithstanding the losses resulting from these disasters, Ma- jor Doxey again rebuilt the factory and continued to run it un til the spring of 1877, when it was sold to H. J. Bronnen- berg, who continued to operate the plant until 1884, when he so I'd it to J. L. Kilgore. The capacity of the plant was in- creased by additional buildings and machinery being added by- Mr. Kilgore, who continued to operate it until 1895, when it was closed down on account of the scarcity of timber in thi as part of the country. The machinery was subsequently shi pped to a factory at Paducah, Ky .. in which Mr. Kilgore is interested.

The amount of heading and staves manufactured at this factory during the time it was in operation was enormous.

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.

A large number of hands was employed and a vast sum of money was expended for timber and labor annually.

Two other heading and stave factories were operated near "The Crossing," but not until.some time after the Doxey fac- tory was built. One of these factories was situated just east of "The Crossing," and was originally built for a sawmill and excelsior works, but was purchased by J. J. Ralya and converted into a stave manufactory. This factory was subse- quently purchased by Henry and Frank Adams, who run it until recently, when it was closed down. The other factory was run by J. L. Kilgore in the old packing house just west of "The Crossing," at the junction of Ohio and Columbus avenues. The building where this factory was operated was built in 1861 by Warren Ellis & Co., pork packers, of Boston, Mass., and was used as a packing house up to 1874, when the company failed. The slaughter house was situated on what was known as " the old Pugh farm," a half mile east of the packing house, and the slaughtered animals were hauled in wagons from the former to the latter house, where they were cut up and packed for the Eastern market. This company in its day disbursed large sums of money in Anderson and Madi- son county. The packing house still stands and is owned by ex-Governor Claflin, of Massachusetts.

The first grain " warehouse" erected in Anderson and the county was built by Leever & Morris in 1858 and was located just north of the Big Four railroad where the present passenger depot stands. It was owned by many different persons in its time the last being E. J. Walden. It was destroyed by fire in 1875, but was rebuilt and again burned.

In 1855 Atherton & Sons erected a warehouse and elevator on East Fifth street and just west of the P. C. C. & St. L. tracks where they bought and shipped grain until 1858, when the property passed into the hands of J. G. and T. N. Stilwell. It was afterwards owned by James Hazlett and William Crim who operated it until 1867 when it was sold to Carl & Son, who converted it into a grist mill. It has changed hands many times and is now owned by James Wellington and Joseph Schalk. It is supplied with the latest and best processes for manufacturing flour and does a large local and export business.

In 1865, B. Noland, H. D. Noland and Stephen Noland, composing the firm of B. Noland & Co., built a grain warehouse on the East side of the P. C. C. & St. L. railroad, near " The

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.

Crossing." The company handled grain until the autumn of 1868, when the building burned and was never rebuilt.

What were known as the Dickson mills, afterwards burned, were built by James M. Dickson in 1874 and were located where the Hickey House now stands.

In 1875 E. J. Walden erected a two-story frame elevator east of Main street and immediately north of the Big Four road where he handled grain for one season, when he leased the property to W. C. Fleming. Mr. Walden and C. T. Doxey afterwards formed a partnership and took possession of the property doing business under the style of Walden & Doxey. In 1877 Mr. Doxey retired from the firm and was succeeded by Samuel Pence, the firm becoming Walden & Pence. This firm did a large business, handling 100,000 bushels of wheat and 150,000 bushels of corn in 1878. The elevator was afterwards destroyed by fire and was never rebuilt.

Of the old manufacturing establishments that are still being operated are the following :

The Mathes wagon and carriage manufacotry established in 1868 by George Mathes ; the Hoosier planing-mill, estab- lished in 1868 by Samuel Templeton, Jonas Raber, Frederick Engle, Henry Kessler and Stephen Market, and run under the firm name of Templeton, Raber & Co .; the Armstrong planing- mill, built in 1868 by William Wright and Nathan Armstrong at the south-east corner of Meridian and Sixth streets; the Anderson foundry and machine works, originally known as the Michner Machine Works, and erected at the north end of Jackson street by a corporation of which D. W. Swank was president and J. W. Westerfield secretary and treasurer ; the grain cradle works and snath factory, established by William Wagoner and Thomas C. Fisher, in 1867, and situated, origi- nally, in the building now occupied by the Bulletin Printing Company, but subsequently removed to the south-east corner of Milton and First streets; the Hill boiler and machine works, erected in 1870 by J. N. Hill on Sixth, between Meri- dian and Jackson streets ; the Bosworth planing-mill and sash factory located on South Jackson street.

NEW FACTORIES.

An account of the discovery of natural gas at Anderson, and the steps taken to secure the location of factories and other industrial enterprises are given elsewhere in this work. The following are the results :

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.

The first manufactury located was the Longsworth Han- dle Factory. Then came the Truss-hoop Factory ; Fowler Nut and Bolt Works, now operated by the Schofield Co .; the Anderson Flint Bottle Works; the American Wire and Rod Mill ; Knife and Bar Works; American Straw-board Works; J. W. Sefton Manufacturing Co .; Pennsylvania Glass Factory ; Hoosier Glass Factory; Cathedral Glass Works; Pennsylvania Quartz Mill; Gould Steel Works; Crystal Ice Works; Union Window-Glass Factory; Hazen Wire Nail Mill; Columbia Encaustic Tile Works; Anderson Paper and Pulp Mills ; Arcade File Works; North Anderson Window-glass Factory ; Woolley Machine Works; Victor Window-glass Factory ; Anderson Iron and Bolt Works; Indiana Box Factory ; Anderson Forging Co .; Buckeye Man- ufacturing Co .; Barber Bed Spring Co .; Gentzen Art-Glass Co .; Wright Shovel Works; National Tin Plate Factory ; Cans- field Stationery Co .; Sheppard Canning Co .; Fred Myers Planing-Mill; L. D. Adams Planing-Mill; Raible & Snyder Box Factory ; the Springer Planing-Mill.

These factories, together with the minor manufacturing concerns, have about $4,000,000 invested, and employ 3,000 operatives to whom thousands of dollars are disbursed each week.

From the foregoing it can be easily seen why the small country town of a few years ago has become a manufacturing center ; a thriving, bustling city of 21,042 inhabitants.

What will the city be in wealth and population fifty years hence?

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

ANDERSON BANKS.

Anderson has three regularly organized banking institu- tions, and all that can be said in commendation of one applies with equal force to all. While they are managed upon conservative principles, the strictest business methods are employed in their transactions with the public. While many similar depositories throughout the State and country were compelled to close their doors during the financial panic of 1893-4, the banks of Anderson withstood the shock, promptly meeting every demand that was made upon them. They are financially sound and enjoy the public confidence in the fullest degree.

THE CITIZENS' BANK

Was organized in 1855 by the late Neal C. Mccullough and Judge Byron K. Elliott, and is the oldest banking institution in Madison county. Judge Elliott retired from connection with the bank in 1868. In 1879 the bank was reorganized, C. K. Mccullough and W. T. Durbin being admitted to partnership. D. F. Mustard was also admitted as a partner in 1881, but three years later retired, and, in connection with A. J. Brunt and others, purchased the Madison County National Bank. This bank was organized originally by J. E. Corwin, J. II. Terhune, L. J. Burr, N. R. Elliott and other capitalists, and was known as the "Madison County Bank." It afterwards became a National bank, but after doing busi- ness several years, went into liquidation and resumed as a private bank. It was consolidated with the Citizens' Bank in 1886, Messrs. Mustard and Brunt becoming members of the firm. Mr. Neal C. Mccullough, the head of the institu- tion, died in 1888 and his interest was continued by the estate, perhaps the largest and most valuable in the county. The bank is now under the management of W. T. Durbin, D. F. Mustard, J. W. Pence, C. K. Mccullough, the Mccullough estate, J. II. Terhune, F. R. Brown and R. F.

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Schenck. The capital stock of the bank is $150,000 and the surplus $18,000. Aside from the capital invested by the mem- bers of the firm, they represent large property interests, and, as the bank is not incorporated, are individually liable to depositors to the extent of their possessions both in money and property, excepting the amount set off by law.

NATIONAL EXCHANGE BANK.

In 1866, William Crim & Co. organized the Exchange Bank of Anderson, with Joseph Fulton as cashier. The bank was located in a building owned by the late Rob- ert Adams, and was situated where the Phoenix block now stands at the north-west corner of Main and Eighth streets. In 1881 the bank was reorganized, H. J. Daniels, John L. Forkner and T. J. McMahan, being admitted to the membership. In 1884 the Hon. J. W. Sansberry purchased Mr. Daniels' interest, the latter retiring from the firm and purchasing an interest in the Citizens' Bank. The Citizens' and Madison County Banks having been consolidated, the Exchange, in 1886, removed to the former quarters of the Citizens' Bank at the north-east corner of Main and Ninth streets, where it is now located. In 1892, the bank was or- ganized under the National banking law and is now operated under the name and style of " The National Exchange Bank, of Anderson." The present officers are, T. J. McMahan, president ; C. W. Prather, vice-president ; J. L .. Forkner, cashier, and James W. Sansberry, Jr., assistant cashier. In- cluding the officers of the institution, the directory is composed of James W. Sansberry, Sr., B. W. Scott. J. F. Wild, C. W. Prather, J. W. Sansberry, Jr., J. L. Forkner and T. J. Mc- Mahan, all of whom are safe business men and numbered among Anderson's most reliable and influential citizens. The capital stock is $100,000 ; surplus and profits, $15,000. The bank does a large, safe and profitable business.

ANDERSON BANKING COMPANY.

This bank was organized in February, 1890, and imme- diately sprang into prominence as a safe and reliable financial institution. The stockholders are, Dr. B. Baker, W. H. Quick, Jesse L. Vermillion, George F. Quick, Harrison Cana- day, U. C. Vermillion, S. E. Young, J. A. J. Brunt and H. J. Daniels. The active managers are, H. J. Daniels, Jesse L. Vermillion and George F. Quick. The capital stock of

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.

this institution is $125,000. The individual members of the bank have large holdings in real estate, the aggregate amount exceeding 4,800 acres of the finest and most valuable lands in Madison county. The bank has been successful in its business from the day it opened its doors, and is regarded as one of the soundest repositories in central Indiana.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL.

Through the philanthrophy of John Hickey, Esq., a na- tive of County Wicklow, Ireland, but a resident of Anderson since 1853, the city is indebted for one of its noblest institu- tions-St. John's Hospital. This asylum for the afflicted was

JOHN HICKEY, ESQ.

founded in 1894, the deed to the property having been made on the #1st of March of that year by Mr. Hickey, or " Uncle John " Hickey, as he is affectionately called by all who know him. The conveyance is made to " the trustees of the corpo- ration of St. Mary's Academy, for the use and benefit of the Sisters of the Holy Cross." and specifies that in the event it should ever become necessary to dispose of the property the

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trustees shall invest the proceeds of the sale thereof in other property within or adjacent to the city. This contingency may never arise, however, as the property is eligibly situated for the purpose to which it is devoted, being the old Hickey homestead, between Jackson and Brown streets, in the south part of the city. The frame residence was used as a hospital until the present brick building was completed in the spring of 1895. This building is two stories high and 95 feet long by 65 feet wide. It is constructed in such a manner that the additions contemplated in the original plans will, when made, enhance its attractiveness as well as enlarge its conveniences. A number of public-spirited citizens, sympathizing with the object and appreciating the efforts of the Sisters of the Holy Cross to erect a suitable building in which to carry on the beneficent work of ministering to the wants of the sick and afflicted, made generous donations of materials and money to that end and now have the satisfaction of knowing that but few cities in the country of the population of Anderson have a better equipped or better managed charity of its kind than St. John's Hospital. The institution is superintended by Sis- ter Victoria, a devout Christian and most gracious woman, assisted by six Sisters of the same order. The doors of St. John's Hospital are open to all who are sick, without regard to race, color or condition in life. Its impartial charities are bestowed upon all who seek them, and if necessary without money and without price. If Mr. Hickey should leave no other monument or work to perpetuate his memory, this noble institution will be sufficient. His name will be identified with its benefactions as long as it endures.

Among those who contributed generously to the building of this institution were Major C. T. Doxey, A. J. Brunt and Hon. James W. Sansberry.

CHAPTER XL.

ANDERSON CEMETERIES.

With the settlement of Anderson a public cemetery or burying ground became necessary. At the March session, 1832, of the County Commissioners they made the following order with reference to the matter : "Ordered, that William Curtis, agent of Madison County, for Andersontown, the seat of jus- tice of said county, do make and execute to John Berry, in con- sideration of a certain lot of ground by said Berry transferred, for the purpose of a burying ground, a deed for Lots No. 15 and 16, in the south-east square of Andersontown." And again at the January session, 1834, it was, " Ordered, that Joseph Shannon be, and he is hereby appointed county agent for the seat of justice of Madison County, and that he is hereby in- structed to receive a good deed of John Berry for a burying- ground, agreeably to said Berry's undertaking, and also to col- lect the amount of donation subscribed thereon."

It does not appear of record that Mr. Berry ever executed a deed as required by the county Board, but the ground desig- nated by him was used for years by the citizens of Anderson and surrounding country as a place of interment. This ceme- tery was situated at the east end of Tenth street on a hill studded with graceful forest trees. It was used for many years as a burial-ground but was finally vacated, the remains of those buried there being removed to a cemetery laid out by Collins Tharp on a strip of land lying just west of Delaware street be- tween Eleventh and Twelfth streets. In 1867-8 the hill upon which the first cemetery was located was removed by the P. C. C. & St. L. Railway Co., in order to obtain gravel for its road- bed and the partial remains of a number of persons who had been buried there and forgotten were hauled away and dumped along the line of the road as so much dirt.

In 1863 it became apparent that a larger cemetery was necessary and the Anderson Cemetery Association was organ- ized. Ground was purchased across the river north of the city and the Tharp cemetery was abandoned. Those having friends

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buried there removed their remains to the new place of sepul- ture. The first interment in the new cemetery was that of James M., infant son of Mr. and Mrs. William Crim, and the grave was dug by James Battreall and Bryant Taylor. The .

child died in August, 1863, of the dread disease, diphtheria. This disease became epidemic that year in Anderson and the idols of many households were stricken before it ceased its ravages. In 1867 the Catholic church purchased the ground on South Brown street since known as St. Mary's cemetery and subse- quently consecrated it as a place of burial. The first person buried in this cemetery was Michael, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Carmody.

CHAPTER XLI.

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF ANDERSON, CITY AND TOWNSHIP, PAST AND PRESENT - THEIR NUMBER - COST OF MAINTAINING THEM, ETC.

The history of the public schools of Anderson and Ander- son township is in many respects essentially the history of the public schools throughout the county. In a previous chapter the progress made by the public schools in general has been given and it is only necessary here, therefore, to mention such matters of interest as relate to the schools of Anderson in particular.

The first school in Anderson township was taught by Richard Treadway in 1883. The school house was made of logs and was situated on what is now known as Central ave- nue, between Tenth and Eleventh streets. Col. Ninevah Berry subsequently taught school in this house. A few years later a subscription was raised and a frame school house was erected near the northwest corner of what are now designated as Delaware and Eleventh streets. This building was used for several years as a school house, but was afterward remodeled and converted into a residence. It still stands and is one of the oldest frame buildings in Anderson. The first teacher who taught in this building was Samuel Brattan. He was followed by Seth Smith, Jones R. Daily and others. The · first professional teacher to practice his profession in Ander- son was O. P. Stone. He came to Anderson in 1846, and taught regularly until 1853. The Hon. James W. Sansberry also taught school about this time. Other old-time teachers were Messrs. S. W. Hill, Pentecost, Hoxhurst, I. N. Terwil- liger and Misses Hudson, Bowman and Burns.

In 1828 the Legislature passed a law authorizing the erection of county seminaries at the public expense and in 1849 a two-story brick seminary was erected on the site of the pres- ent building at the corner of Main and Twelfth streets. The building was forty feet square with an east and west hall ex- tending through it. The ground was donated for school

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purposes by Newell Williams and Andrew Jackson. This building was destroyed by fire in 1856 and another was erected on its site, which in the course of time (1889) was torn down to be replaced by the present edifice, which was known as the High School building until 1890, when the imposing structure which now stands between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets and just east of School street, was erected. In 186% a two- story brick building was erected by the school trustees at the north-east corner of Seventh and Milton streets. The trustees at that time were N. C. Mccullough, Dr. B. F. Spann and C. Kirlin. This building was used for school purposes until 1895, when it was torn down and the present spacious build- ing erected.

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Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the., Part 27

Author: Forkner, John L. (John La Rue), 1844-1926 Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Anderson, Ind. : Forkner Number of Pages: 1055

Author: Forkner, John L. (John La Rue), 1844-1926
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Anderson, Ind. : Forkner
Number of Pages: 1055